The next big work trip began with a simple goal: get to Craiova, Romania, for a week of Sprint Planning. As it turned out, "simple" was not on the itinerary.
The adventure started at 2:00 AM, nine hours before I was even supposed to leave, when I got a notification that my Munich-to-Bucharest flight was canceled. Thanks to my pre-trip habit of adjusting to the destination's time zone, I was already awake and able to re-book a new connection.
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| An unexpected stop: a grey afternoon at Chicago O'Hare. |
Crisis averted, or so I thought. At the United Club in Denver, I was warned that my new flight might also have issues, so they rerouted me through Chicago.
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| O'Hare's Tunnel of Lights is always a highlight, even on a stressful travel day. |
I arrived at Chicago O'Hare and went to the Polaris Lounge, only to be told by a very nice young woman that the flight from there to Frankfurt was also questionable. WTAF!? Apparently, 30cm of snow had fallen in Munich, and the storm was blanketing the entire region.
Just as I was losing hope, that wonderful agent worked for thirty minutes and miraculously found a connection I could make. With my ticket finally sorted, it was time for a much-needed gin and some supper. A quick email check revealed I wasn't the only one in this boat (Airplane!?). My boss was stuck in Newark and a colleague was stranded in Philly. A truly chaotic start to the journey.
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| Finally on a plane that's hopefully heading in the right direction. Time to settle in. |
But, hey! I am on a plane and headed to Germany - the adventure continues!
Wherever you are today, I hope your journey is smooth, but if it's not, I hope you find a helpful soul behind a counter to get you on your way.
Don Bergquist – 02 December 2023 – Chicago, Illinois, USA
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